Richard Branson’s son Sam reveals how the family are putting on a brave face in first Christmas since losing their mother as Shane MacGowan’s widow shares heartbreaking post

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This Christmas won’t be happy for everyone. Some people are grieving the loss of family and friends, and others will be spending the holidays by themselves.

Richard Branson and his family are spending their first Christmas season since the passing of his wife, Joan, who died last month at age 80. Despite their sadness, they are trying to remain positive and celebrate together.

The couple’s 40-year-old son, Sam, shared a funny picture on Instagram of his children’s Elves on the Shelf after they playfully filled the toilet with cereal. He wished everyone a ‘Merry Christmas’ in the post’s caption.

Richard also shares daughter Holly, 43, with his late wife, to whom he was married for 36, years.

Following the death of singer Shane MacGowan in November 2023 at the age of 65, his wife, Victoria Mary Clarke, shared that a large part of her heart was now with him in heaven.

She posted a happy photo of her late husband, celebrating both Christmas and what would have been his 67th birthday. Her message read, ‘Happy birthday to the man I loved. Thank you for everything, and I’ll always love you.’

Just two months after her father’s death following a 12-year fight with leukemia, Jessie Wallace’s sister, Danielle Mason, shared a heartfelt tribute to him.

The TV presenter shared a photo of her father on Instagram, writing a heartfelt message: ‘Missing you so much, Happy Christmas, Dad’.

James, the son of TV chef Rustie Lee, shared that he’ll be spending Christmas by himself this year because he’s feeling unwell.

He shared with his followers that he’ll be spending Christmas alone this year. He explained that he woke up feeling sick and isn’t well enough to travel to his mother’s house for Christmas dinner.

My mum told me to stay away because she doesn’t want to catch my cold, so I’m facing this on my own. Wish me luck!

As a huge fan, it was amazing to see everyone flooding the comments with support for James! People weren’t just sending nice messages, they were genuinely offering him a place to stay – it was so heartwarming to see the community rally around him like that.

British rapper Harvey, 46, also shared a heartfelt message online, noting it was his second Christmas without his mother.

As a lifestyle expert, I’ve always said grief is a journey, not a destination. I recently saw a post that really resonated with me – someone shared a heartfelt photo and wrote about their second Christmas without their mom. It wasn’t about the pain going away, but learning to live with it, to carry it forward. It’s a beautiful, and honestly, very real way to look at loss. It’s a reminder that acknowledging our sadness is a strength, and that even through the holidays, it’s okay to feel, and to remember those we love.

Seeing your grandchildren reminds me of how much their Nan loved them, and how much they loved her. I still feel lost without you and miss you terribly every single day. I’ll always love you.

This follows his sharing of his Christmas plans with the Daily Mail, even as he continues to cope with immense sadness.

Since my mother passed away last May, celebrating Christmas in the UK has been difficult. My wife and I, along with the kids, have been spending the holidays abroad, and we’re doing that again this year. It’s just hard for me because I strongly associate Christmas with my mother.

The past year has been really strange. I haven’t been very close to my mother, and haven’t connected with my grandkids much either. I’ve been busy and away a lot, and it’s brought up a lot of bittersweet memories.

He continued, explaining that they always spend New Year’s with his partner’s family in the Midlands. He described it as a reciprocal arrangement – he supports her family, and she supports his. He feels obligated to participate and show support for her relatives when they gather.

We generally enjoy performing there, and things are always lively up north. People tend to be more laid-back, and the pubs are much more welcoming. It’s a great atmosphere overall.

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2025-12-25 14:18